Two teenagers, who told a 15-year-old girl to film them beating a vulnerable man to death then gleefully showed it to friends, have been locked up for a total of 13 years.

A judge told Mark Masters, 19, and 17-year-old Sean Thompson that nothing could mitigate "this revolting, gratuitous and degrading attack upon a helpless man".

And jailing them Judge James Stewart QC said: "Each of you typifies the young, drunken, violent yob who hunt in packs of whom the public is sick and tired."

Masters, of Parkwood Rise, Keighley, and Thompson, of Parkwood Terrace, Cullingworth, had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to the manslaughter of 29-year-old Gavin Waterhouse, a vulnerable and ill man with drink problems.

Mr Waterhouse died in his bedsit flat at North Street, Keighley, three days after suffering a ruptured spleen when he was repeatedly punched and kicked by Masters and Thompson on September 23 last year.

Prosecutor Tom Bayliss QC told Leeds Crown Court that Mr Waterhouse was attacked by the pair when they came across him drinking alone behind Morrisons supermarket in Keighley.

advertisementMr Bayliss said Masters handed his mobile phone to the 15-year-old girl and told her to "video this". She filmed the attack that followed.

The victim was repeatedly punched in the face and head by Masters, pulled to the ground by Thompson and kicked in the body by both teenagers. They then left him lying motionless on the ground.

After the attack Masters and Thompson were said to be overjoyed with what they had done and the girl was "hyper" and dancing to music.

Film of the assault was sent to the mobile phone of a friend. The attackers were excited as they watched the clip, the court was told.

Mr Bayliss said the film was sent to another mobile phone after Mr Waterhouse had died and shown at Thompson's request who was laughing.

The court heart that Masters and Thompson had beaten up Mr Waterhouse on several previous occasions, though they had not caused him serious injury.

Judge Stewart told them they "got a thrill out of degrading him".

Sentencing Masters to seven years in youth custody and Thompson to six years' detention, the judge said: "When you saw Gavin Waterhouse on Sunday, September 23, you decided to have some sport.

"All three of you thought it was great fun."

He said he accepted they did not know Mr Waterhouse was dying but added: "Gavin made his way home in great pain to lay dying alone in his flat during the following three days because of a ruptured spleen. The pain he endured must have been horrific.

"You, Masters and Thompson, not knowing he was dead, rejoiced in what you had done, describing to friends how you degraded and battered him."

He said the impact on Mr Waterhouse's family was appalling and told Masters he must hold primary responsibility for the "senseless violence".

He said a constant disadvantaged background could not excuse his dreadful behaviour.

Michael Harrison QC, for Masters, admitted it was a "deplorable spectacle" but said it was not intended to inflict grievous bodily harm.

Gary Burrell QC, for Thompson, said he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had expressed remorse.

The 15-year-old girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting manslaughter. She will be sentenced next week.